Maria Ermita (Ermi) is the main character in the novel.
Conchita (Conching) is the mother of Ermi.
Felicitas (Fely) is the rich socialite aunt of Ermi.
Joselito is the businessman uncle of Ermi.
Servants
Arturo is the driver of the Rojos.
Orang is the wife of Arturo.
Macarthur is the son of Arturo. He is a close friend of Ermi.
Nanet is the daughter of Arturo.
Alejandra
Friends of Ermi
Rolando Cruz - Professor of History and a frequent customer of Camarin Bar and Restaurant.
Didi - Owner of Camarin Bar and Restaurant.
Ermi's Customers
The Great Man - Prime Minister of an Asian country.
Senator Andres Bravo
Businessman Eduardo Dantes
Others
Sister Constancia (Tancing) is the head of orphanage the took care and educated of the child Ermi.
General Bombilla - an honest man who became Marcos' man.
Anita - aging prostitute that Ermi saved from poverty.
Lily - daughter of Anita who became anti-Marcos
Scenes
F. Sionil José brings the reader to a story to a time in Philippine history before the declaration of Martial Law by Ferdinand Marcos during the 1950s. José also brings his readers to prewar and post-war Ermita, formerly the district of Manila's elite. The reader is also brought to the Philippines in the year 1941, a country that went through the experience of being attacked and occupied by the Empire of Japan, a nation that suffered the effects of World War II and of going through the regime of the Marcos government.[2]